Niger State Police Command has launched an investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who were found dead while in custody at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Niger State Command on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
Commissioner of Police Adamu Abdullahi Elleman ordered the probe after the incident, which occurred in the early hours of the Thursday. He directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna to take charge of the investigation and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“Persons arrested over alleged illegal mining were found dead while in detention at the NSCDC Niger State Command,” said Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun in a statement.
The command has urged family members, relatives and anyone with credible information to come forward and provide details to the SCID in Minna. Elleman appealed for calm, urging residents, relatives and acquaintances of the deceased to remain law‑abiding and cooperate with the investigation.
He assured the public that the command would thoroughly investigate the incident to determine the cause of the deaths and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding human rights and ensuring accountability in the discharge of statutory responsibilities by law‑enforcement agencies.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
